Onward to ETHER. So little understood, so hard to communicate. Also called Spirit, or Akasha. Sometimes referred to as the quintessence. Difficult as it may be, this 'element' or principle can be treated exhaustively, and can probably be referred to with a thousand other names. Bardon calls it the causal sphere, and we are reminded it is where the other elements all originated. It runs through and permeates all that is, and no magic happens without it. It transcends space and time, and it is no wonder Bardon says religions equate it with God, or it is the God in religion. This view may be debatable, though it wouldn't be hard to find Spirit equated with God. I believe it may be the 'holy spirit' or the 'shekinah' and a force of God, the source, yet it is still a medium. It permeates all the elements and is the source of their power. It is the key to understanding the use and directing of the elements. It brings the total number of elements to five, which is represented by the pentagram, and hints at its importance in ceremonial work. So much more can be said.... hint hint.

Bardon then goes on to cover more points he feels are important before beginning the practical work. I will spend much less time on these, as they are general topics, all of which merit deep study and further investigation. they are;
LIGHT; established on fire. Fire then said to produce light, as water is darkness. This hints at the biblical story of creation.
The concept of light as a spiritual force is what is important. We instantly think of its opposite, darkness, without which, light is incomprehensible.

KARMA. Here is another topic that should be familiar to us. The law of cause and effect. We are accustomed to thinking of good and bad karma, but it is important also to see the karma of things and events, karma beyond the self, while also seeing the karma of the forces we apply, and every action we take. This is a wide open field.

I have more to finish chapter 1 before the practical work begins, and that's the juicy stuff, but I think I've posted enough to see if I've generated some interest.

Salutations
ATB aka Drew